A thin-film magnetic head has a magnetoresistive effect read head element. The magnetoresistive effect read head element includes a lower shield layer, an upper shield layer, and a magnetoresistive effect layer formed between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer. The magnetoresistive effect read head element also includes a lower antiferromagnetic layer. The lower antiferromagnetic layer is contacted with the lower shield layer only at an edge area of the lower shield layer.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A thin-film magnetic head having a magnetoresistive effect read head element, the magnetoresistive effect read head element comprising: a substrate; a lower shield layer above the substrate; an upper shield layer above the lower shield layer, relative to the substrate; a magnetoresistive effect layer formed between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer, said magnetoresistive effect layer having a pinning antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a magnetization free layer; a lower antiferromagnetic layer that is different from said pinning antiferromagnetic layer; and an upper antiferromagnetic layer formed at a back area and both side areas of the lower shield layer seen from an air bearing surface side and contacted with the upper shield layer only at an edge area of the upper shield layer to prevent a concentration of magnetic fluxes around and a leakage of magnetic fluxes from the edge area of the upper shield layer, wherein said lower antiferromagnetic layer is formed at a back area and both side areas of the lower shield layer seen from an air bearing surface side and contacted with the lower shield layer only at an edge area of the lower shield layer to prevent a concentration of magnetic fluxes around and a leakage of magnetic fluxes from the edge area of the lower shield layer, and the lower antiferromagnetic layer is laminated under the edge area of the lower shield layer.
2. The thin-film magnetic head according to claim 1 , wherein the upper antiferromagnetic layer is laminated under the edge area of the upper shield layer.
3. The thin-film magnetic head according to claim 1 , wherein a blocking temperature of an antiferromagnetic material used for the lower antiferromagnetic layer is higher than a blocking temperature of an antiferromagnetic material used for the pinning antiferromagnetic layer of the magnetoresistive effect layer.
4. The thin-film magnetic head according to claim 1 , further comprising: an inductive write head element formed on the magnetoresistive effect read head element.
5. The thin-film magnetic head according to claim 4 , wherein the inductive write head element is for perpendicular magnetic recording.
6. A magnetic head assembly, comprising: the thin-film magnetic head according to claim 1 ; and means for supporting the thin-film magnetic head.
7. A magnetic disk drive apparatus, comprising; a magnetic disk; and the magnetic head assembly according to claim 6 .
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 8, 2007
February 28, 2012
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